James Reid was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, and was educated at Glasgow University, where he gained a Doctorate of Divinity in 1833. He was ordained at Donegore, County Antrim, and at Carrickfergus, County Antrim. In 1827 he was elected Moderator of the Synod of Ulster and co-founded a journal Orthodox Presbyterian to which he contributed. From 1837 he was Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the Belfast Institute, and from 1841 Professor of Ecclesiastical and Civil History in the University of Glasgow. As well as other works he wrote a History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in three volumes (1867), which was unfinished at the time of his death and was completed by W. D. Killen.

Born:	19 December 1798
Died:	26 March 1851